"It's here."
In the scorching desert, Gu He confirmed the location once more with his soul perception, his tone resolute.
"Qing Lin, stay behind me." Gu He glanced at the girl beside him and issued the command.
Obediently, Qing Lin nodded and took cover behind him.
With a thought, Gu He extended his palm, summoning the Natal Divine Flame. Under his control, the violet flame surged from his hand like a blazing dragon, drilling straight into the desert floor below.
His palm remained fixed on the target area as endless purple flames erupted, relentlessly scorching the ground.
Soon, under the relentless assault of the flames, a deep pit formed before Gu He's eyes. A faint smile curled at the corner of his lips as he intensified the firepower, sending waves of searing flames plunging deeper into the pit.
As time passed, the pit grew deeper—four, five meters down. Without hesitation, Gu He scooped Qing Lin into his arms and leaped into the chasm, suspending himself midair as he continued channeling flames downward.
The deeper they descended, the more oppressive the fire-attributed dou qi became.
"Qing Lin, tell me immediately if the heat becomes unbearable, understand?" Gu He's deep voice carried a note of concern as he glanced down at her.
"Mm." She nodded meekly.
Observing her expression, Gu He noted that she showed no signs of distress despite the scorching dou qi around them. Reassured, he increased his firepower, propelling them further into the depths.
A few more meters down, however, Qing Lin's face finally paled—the heat had become too much for her.
Reacting swiftly, Gu He activated the Black Ice Sacred Armor encasing his body. A surge of icy dou qi circulated around them, neutralizing the fiery atmosphere and easing Qing Lin's discomfort.
Not long after, a flicker of excitement crossed Gu He's face.
The Divine Flame pulse within him was now circulating his dou qi autonomously, surging at an unprecedented speed—proof that the fire-attributed dou qi below had reached an extreme concentration.
Suddenly, the flames before him tore through an unseen barrier, and a blinding crimson light flooded his vision.
"We're here!"
At the sight of the red glow, Gu He's eyes lit up. With a final burst of force, the world before him transformed into an endless sea of fire.
Within the vast underground cavern, a river of molten magma flowed sluggishly, its surface occasionally bubbling before bursting with a loud pop, sending up sprays of fiery liquid like dazzling fireworks.
Hovering in the air with Qing Lin in his arms, Gu He stared at the seemingly boundless magma world before them, both awestruck enough to swallow hard.
"I never expected… such a beautiful and dangerous place lay hidden beneath the desert outside Stone Desert City."
Encased in a protective blue glow, Gu He murmured in amazement.
"It's… spectacular," Qing Lin whispered, her own body shielded by the same dou qi, sparing her from the scorching heat.
"Teacher, I… I can sense that presence. It's beneath the magma…"she said hesitantly.
Gu He had already deduced as much and gave a slight nod.
Qing Lin paled as she stared at the searing lake below.
'Who would dare venture into that?'
'Are they not afraid of death?'
The thought sent a shiver through her.
Suddenly, she noticed Gu He's unwavering gaze fixed on the depths. Her face tightened with worry.
"Teacher… you're not planning to go down there, are you?"
"Ah."
He nodded reflexively before catching the fear in her eyes. Softening his tone, Gu He reassured her, "Don't worry. This magma can't harm me."
Still, after a moment's thought, Gu He activated his spatial ability, transporting them both back to the desert surface and then directly into the Desert Iron Mercenary Regiment's quarters.
"Wait here. I'll return soon."
Before Qing Lin could even process the sudden shift, Gu He vanished in a flash.
Reappearing above the magma lake, he scanned the fiery expanse below, a plan forming in his mind.
Suppressing his aura, he soared freely over the molten sea.
Gu He recalled that within these depths lurked a Two-Headed Fire Spirit serpent—a rank 4 Magic Beast, equivalent to a Dou Spirit (Dou Ling).
'That beast should know the hiding place of the Green Lotus Core Flame.'
This magma world was vast beyond measure. Searching blindly would take an eternity.
'To find the flame quickly, I'll need the serpent to lead the way.'
Thus, his goal was clear: lure out the serpent, subdue it before it could react, and force it to guide him.
As he flew, the sheer scale of the cavern became even more apparent. The magma had pooled into an enormous lake, its surface occasionally erupting in towering pillars of fire under surges of scorching air.
Watching this, Gu He's eyelids twitched. He promptly activated his Black Ice Sacred Armor, encasing himself in its protective ice to ward off the splashing magma.
A thought struck him: 'How did Queen Medusa retrieve the Green Lotus Core Flame from here?'
'Did she also use the Two-Headed Flame Spirit serpent as a guide?'
The question lingered—until a sudden shift in the dou qi below snapped him back to focus.
"Finally… it's here." Gu He remained perfectly still, his aura completely concealed.
BOOM!
Within moments, the calm magma lake exploded. Molten rock surged skyward as a massive, serpentine shadow shot from the depths—its twin heads lunging like lightning toward Gu He.
A cold smirk curled his lips.
"Now that you're here… don't even think about leaving."
…
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